Albuquerque designates Wildland-Urban Interface zones along the Sandia foothills and Bosque under the International WUI Code, triggering strict construction and defensible space rules.
Albuquerque Fire Rescue and the Planning Department jointly administer the city's WUI overlay, which maps fire hazard severity from moderate through very high. Parcels in the Sandia foothills (Glenwood Hills, Elena Gallegos, Tramway corridor) and the Rio Grande Bosque edge fall into high or very-high WUI zones. New construction and substantial remodels in these zones must use Class A roofing, ignition-resistant exterior siding, ember-resistant vents, and tempered dual-pane windows. Wood shake roofing is prohibited in very high zones. Existing structures must maintain defensible space per AFR rules. The Bosque fire of 2003 and periodic foothills fires drive ongoing zone tightening. WUI zone designations are reviewed after major fire events and after National Fire Protection Association map updates.
Construction without WUI-compliant materials is a building code violation triggering stop-work orders, $500-$5,000 fines, and potential certificate of occupancy hold. Defensible space failure follows the brush clearance escalation path.
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See how Albuquerque's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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